Significant people - On 1 Peter 1.1 & 2

When preaching, I often feel I should bow to the congregation, like the teacher who daily bowed to his class of boys. 'I never know,' he said, 'if one day a boy might be important.' There was a boy in his class named Martin. His second name? Luther.

Do you realise that every congregation of Christian believers is a group of important and significant persons?

Let me explain. Peter was writing in the mid-first century AD to Christians living in Northern Turkey. They were probably a mix of ex-Jewish and Gentile-background believers. Some families had probably been evicted from Jerusalem generations before. Others had settled in the region and were living as ex-patriots. Some might have arrived recently, following early Christian persecution. Peter writes to alert them that greater persecution lies ahead. God's word through him is to equip them to witness in troubled times. Peter's encouragement begins in the first verses. He says, in effect: 'You are significant people.'

Strangers & scattered

He addressed them as 'God's elect.' This means God chose them to be his people before time began. Peter could have left it there and proceeded to verse 3. Instead he developed his introduction, centring first on the word strangers. Many of his readers were ex-patriot in Northern Turkey. But says Peter: 'Now that you belong to Jesus, you are ex-patriot in the world. You are citizens of heaven.' If that was true of the first century, it is also true of the 21st! Christian reader, is this your perspective on life? We are ex-pats, just passing through.

He then used another word: Diaspora, which means scattered. They were 'strangers of the Diaspora'. This famous word, is used today to describe Jews, who have been scattered across the world through their troubled history. It has a technical meaning, but largely, its root is in farming.

Remember Jesus's first parable? 'A sower went forth to sow.' He scattered the seed and it landed on the path; among thorns; on stony soil; and, thankfully, some on good ground. It was arbitrary. I have illustrated this in a family service using rolled up pieces of paper, scattered across the congregation. Some landed in a woman's hair; some down a fellow's shirt; some in a handbag and so on. It was just arbitrary, but it made Peter's point powerfully. He was saying, 'You folks in Northern Turkey probably feel like scattered seed. At least that's how it looks.' We can identify with this. Not many of us see ourselves as part of the great scheme of things. 'I'm just little me.'

Is there meaning?

Some of us remember the existential teaching of the 1970s. It said humanity is like grains of sand, washed up on the shore of history from the sea of being. There is no meaning to life. Is that correct? Let me ask you: why you are you, who you are, what you are, where you are? Why are you the person you are? Why do you do the job you do? Is it by chance? God's word through Peter says that we may feel we are 'strangers in the world' and in many ways we should! But we are not merely 'scattered.' Look at verse 2.

God's plan

Peter explains that far from being people of chance, Christian believers are the product of the shared work of the Holy Trinity. The Father chose us before time began to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. He not only knew who and what we would be, he planned it! It became a reality 'by the sanctifying work of the Spirit'. The Holy Spirit was 'gunning' for you long before you knew it. He opened your mind and heart to receive the truth of the gospel. The purpose was that you would be obedient in acknowledging Jesus as Saviour and Lord, living to please him daily and telling others about him! Peter went on to develop this in his letter. But he did not intend this to be understood in theological terms alone. If we are not scattered, but significant people, this realisation should transform the lives of 21st-century saints as it did first-century ones!

Just preachin'?

Let me prove this by referring to Acts 16. Paul and his team were approaching the area where these people lived. Luke explains in verse 7: 'We ... tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow us.' Can you imagine Paul's prayers. 'Lord, don't you care about these people? Why won't you let us go?' I don't think Paul received an answer. But we have it, here in 1 Peter 1. The Master of Mission had placed his people there already. They might not preach like Paul, but their lives were living witnesses to the gospel. They were lights in the darkness.

Where are you?

Has God given your church a good preacher? Do you expect the preacher to reach the community? I tell you, it will never happen. The preacher has neither the time, energy, nor the gifting. Your church may have the best preaching in the community, but there will be hundreds, thousands, who will not be drawn by this. But The Great Strategist has placed you somewhere in that community to reach people, whom the pastor or vicar might never meet.

Full or limited sovereignty

Do you believe in the sovereignty of God? I'm sure all EN readers will echo a hearty 'Yes!' So you agree with Paul when he tells us in Galatians 4.4 that 'at the right time God sent his Son' to be our Saviour. Do you think that God took all the trouble to prepare for this event through Old Testament history and prophecy and just left it at that? When Jesus met his disciples on the first Easter evening, he said with eyes ablaze, 'As the Father sent Me, I now send you.' And he says the same to his disciples today.

This is how the world will be reached. Not by preachers like Billy Graham or Luis Palau, much as we thank God for these servants. It will be by ordinary, sorry, significant people, witnessing just where the Lord has placed us. Peter is saying: 'Hold your head high. You are part of a great strategy. God has placed you where he wants you; where you alone can minister.' You may not see the outcome of your witness, but as you 'let your light shine', the Holy Spirit will use it in his strategy of revealing Jesus to those who are being called for salvation and service.

Yes, but...

I know a Christian English teacher, who worked in a sensitive part of the Muslim world. She was contracted for home schooling. On one occasion, commencing a new contract, she approaching the building and passed through the security gate. She must have entered too quickly, because a maid suddenly appeared, took a gun from her apron and put it to the teacher's head. 'Do you know where you are?' she demanded. The teacher pleaded: 'I am here to teach the children.' The question was repeated. 'No. Where am I?' The maid held the gun firmly and stated: 'You are in the home of the second leader of our country.' Now I don't imagine the teacher began her classes each day by reading to the children from John's Gospel. But God, who wants to reveal his Son to all, placed my Christian sister in an important home. I have no doubt that her task was to demonstrate the love of Jesus before a nation's leaders and show them the true nature of Christian living.

That's a great story, someone responds, but I could not live in another culture. No problem. The Great Strategist who called you, placed you where you are, making you what you are, as part of the same plan. Have you ever asked: 'Lord, why have you have made me as I am? What is your plan? Here I am. Use me.' Or are you like the fellow with his single talent, of whom Jesus spoke? You live with low spiritual self-worth.

God's surprises

Last year on my pastoral and preaching travels I met the principal of the only Bible college in a particular country. 'Tell me your story,' I asked. As a boy, Mr. A. had been sent from his homeland to the UK for education in one of our best schools. He then graduated from a British university. Although from a Muslim background, his outlook was completely secular, as was that of the English woman he married. Her background was Roman Catholic. They established a business in the UK and were doing very well. Hardly obvious candidates for the Kingdom of God.

Near their home, an evangelical church was holding an outreach. Each group was challenged to share the message in the community.

The women met to plan a coffee morning, but 'they all with one accord began to make excuse'. 'My neighbour works.' 'My neighbour has three small children', and so on. But one woman said: 'Come on, girls. Let's do it.' And they did. Mrs. A. came to the meeting and opened like a sunflower to the message. She committed her life to the Lord and began witnessing to her husband. Six months later Mr. A. gave his life to Jesus. They gave up business; went to study the Bible and now lead this strategic work.

I wish I had

I told that story in a large, informal church meeting and having reached this point, a woman stopped me and asked to speak. She turned to the congregation and said: 'That story is absolutely true. I was part of that church. I remember the excuses and I remember the challenge, "Let's do it." I remember Mrs. A. coming and finding faith. Now this evening, to hear the outcome is thrilling!' She then dropped her voice and said: 'I confess I did not ask anyone to that coffee morning. Hearing A's story, I wish now I had.' I needed to say no more. She had said it all!

Who would have believed that God would take a man from a Muslim background, married to a lapsed Roman Catholic, utterly secular in outlook and raise them up for strategic ministry? But then, would you believe your neighbour, colleague, business partner or employee could be part of God's plan to receive salvation and then serve him? If you feel the answer is 'No', then you might like to explain why God has placed you where you are. In any case, don't your friends and neighbours deserve to hear the message? Could you share your personal story? Offer a suitable book, or a Bible? Is there a coffee morning invite you could make? What about Sunday's Seeker Service? And what about prayer?

Significant: to be or not to be

Do you love Jesus as your Saviour and Lord? Then you fit the message of 1 Peter 1.1-2. God has placed you strategically. Osama bin Laden placed his men in our Western cities. God has been doing this across the world through the years, because he loves all people and wants his significant people to be witness to the gospel.

Footnote
John Carrick was involved in pastoral ministry for 26 years before his present ministry. Now based at MECO, Tunbridge Wells, he is available for Sunday preaching. He and his wife, Margaret, offer 'Focus on the Middle East' Weekends.